<p><strong>• The Executioner</strong></p> <p>The Executioner brings a more balanced idea of how the vision’s strategy will work as they account for human behaviors. Here, the Executioner makes expectations and goals to the fourth part of the Dream Team — the Workers — clear. Additionally, the Workers and the Executioner work closely together, communicating what is working with the strategy and what isn’t. The Executioner is responsible for voicing this back to the Strategist and Visionary so adjustments can be made, keeping the vision moving forward.</p> <p>Note: the Strategist and the Executioner can be the same individual so long as they have the proper skill sets.</p> <p><strong>• The Worker(s)</strong></p> <p>The Workers are a crucial aspect of any vision since they are the ones who do the actual work. These are the people who must be listened to by the rest of the Dream Team since they are on the ground running, dealing with the day-to-day aspects of bringing the vision to life, providing insight into what’s working, what isn’t, what support is needed, and so on. Without the Workers, the vision will remain a thought.</p> <p><strong>The Dream Team’s Toolbox </strong></p> <p>To ensure that the Dream Team works productively, there are a few tools — primarily people-focused — needed to help bring a vision to fruition.</p> <p><strong>• Courage</strong></p> <p>Members of this team must have the courage to voice their opinions, to push back when needed in order to feel heard. They must have the courage to make sure they’re clear on what’s expected of them in their role — no matter the role they’re in — along with giving and getting clarity.</p> <p><strong>• Empathy</strong></p> <p>Empathy to each other and to the Visionary as well is needed to support the actual vision. Take the time among your team to determine what is going on with team members on all levels and what can be done to provide the right support. In doing this, you’ll build more trust among your members, resulting in more communication and courage in asking for what a specific team member needs.</p> <p><strong>• Communication</strong></p> <p>Build a team willing to improve their communication, as it’s important a team comes together to create a safe space to air any issues that are coming up that might hinder the vision.</p> <p>One way to start improving communication is by having short five- to 10-minute daily team check-ins. Let your team know that these check-ins are to ensure that proper support is being provided and, if it’s not, that this is the space to say what is needed.&nbsp; Be bold and honest in these check-ins, but keep them light and friendly, identifying when a specific issue should be addressed outside of the check-in.</p> <p><strong>• Vulnerability</strong></p> <p>This is the hardest tool to master, as being vulnerable can suck! But, the more you do it, the easier it gets. In your daily check-ins, challenge yourself to be open about what support you need, about any skill sets that are missing that should be required and voicing concerns about the timeline you’ve been given. The only way to move the vision forward is for people to be vulnerable with what they need.</p> <p>Vision is crucial, but without the support for executing the vision and actual investment in the people, the vision can fall apart. Visionary companies don’t become world leaders because of the Visionary alone. They need the support of their team — those who buy into the vision and have the proper skill sets <em>and</em> emotional support to reach the vision. While the Visionary may be the bright light that people are following, remember that they are just one part of a valued and important team.</p>” readability=”112″>

Visionaries inspire, innovate and see potential to transform the world where others may not. However, while visionaries are great, they can get “shiny object syndrome” and may not ask for the support they need to actually bring their vision to life. With a larger-than-life personality that charms the room and an ability to speak to grand visions, it’s easy to forget that the Visionary alone is not enough to actually bring their vision forward.

Bringing Vision To Life

To support the vision, it’s important for the Visionary to surround themselves with a team of people with complementary skills. This is what I call The Dream Team.

• The Visionary

The Visionary has the great idea, is able to see the finished picture and is able to communicate it effectively. However, they sometimes try to do everything themselves in bringing the vision to life — much to the detriment of the vision.

The Visionary must learn to delegate specific tasks, empower others to do their jobs, share the vision and strategy to get there and be able to receive and process feedback from the rest of the team. To ensure that they’re building the right team, they must take the time to get to know their people and make it safe for them to be vulnerable in speaking about the vision and how to move it forward.

• The Strategist

The Strategist helps determine the best way to move the vision forward, showing how to get from “here” to “there” in achieving the vision. The Strategist is able to identify specific actions, timelines and issues that must be overcome to bring the vision to life. However, one downfall of the Strategist is that they often don’t account for the human piece of the strategy. This is where the Executioner is able to continue the vision work.

• The Executioner

The Executioner brings a more balanced idea of how the vision’s strategy will work as they account for human behaviors. Here, the Executioner makes expectations and goals to the fourth part of the Dream Team — the Workers — clear. Additionally, the Workers and the Executioner work closely together, communicating what is working with the strategy and what isn’t. The Executioner is responsible for voicing this back to the Strategist and Visionary so adjustments can be made, keeping the vision moving forward.

Note: the Strategist and the Executioner can be the same individual so long as they have the proper skill sets.

• The Worker(s)

The Workers are a crucial aspect of any vision since they are the ones who do the actual work. These are the people who must be listened to by the rest of the Dream Team since they are on the ground running, dealing with the day-to-day aspects of bringing the vision to life, providing insight into what’s working, what isn’t, what support is needed, and so on. Without the Workers, the vision will remain a thought.

The Dream Team’s Toolbox

To ensure that the Dream Team works productively, there are a few tools — primarily people-focused — needed to help bring a vision to fruition.

• Courage

Members of this team must have the courage to voice their opinions, to push back when needed in order to feel heard. They must have the courage to make sure they’re clear on what’s expected of them in their role — no matter the role they’re in — along with giving and getting clarity.

• Empathy

Empathy to each other and to the Visionary as well is needed to support the actual vision. Take the time among your team to determine what is going on with team members on all levels and what can be done to provide the right support. In doing this, you’ll build more trust among your members, resulting in more communication and courage in asking for what a specific team member needs.

• Communication

Build a team willing to improve their communication, as it’s important a team comes together to create a safe space to air any issues that are coming up that might hinder the vision.

One way to start improving communication is by having short five- to 10-minute daily team check-ins. Let your team know that these check-ins are to ensure that proper support is being provided and, if it’s not, that this is the space to say what is needed.  Be bold and honest in these check-ins, but keep them light and friendly, identifying when a specific issue should be addressed outside of the check-in.

• Vulnerability

This is the hardest tool to master, as being vulnerable can suck! But, the more you do it, the easier it gets. In your daily check-ins, challenge yourself to be open about what support you need, about any skill sets that are missing that should be required and voicing concerns about the timeline you’ve been given. The only way to move the vision forward is for people to be vulnerable with what they need.

Vision is crucial, but without the support for executing the vision and actual investment in the people, the vision can fall apart. Visionary companies don’t become world leaders because of the Visionary alone. They need the support of their team — those who buy into the vision and have the proper skill sets and emotional support to reach the vision. While the Visionary may be the bright light that people are following, remember that they are just one part of a valued and important team.